January 22, 2010 Vol. 67 No. 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 USS Underwood stops at GTMOAirlines Change Flight SchedulesFrom Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public AffairsNew flight schedules for two airlines that service Guantanamo Bay will take effect Jan. 23 as a result of the base s support of Operation Unified Response. Florida Coastal Airlines and Air Sunshine must now adhere to a policy that temporarily removes permission for their aircraft to stay on-station overnight. Florida Coastal and Air arriving Saturday evenings, staying overnight, and leaving Sunday mornings. The airlines will continue to service Guantanamo and its residents, said Lauren Carlson, a Florida Coastal Airlines representative. At this time, we have no intentions of pulling out, said Carlson. We just need to change the schedule because of the People who scheduled flights with either airline will be contacted by a customer service representative to reschedule the flight. If [the passengers] dont think they gave use their phone number, they need to give us their contact To contact Florida Coastal Airlines, call 74106 and for Air Sunshine, call 74915.2 CO, CMC ADDRESS GTMOS RO LE IN HAIT I MISSION 4 LE ARN ABOUT TASK FOR C E 48S LOG ISITCS CENTER ON LEEW ARD 6 Residents March for MLKConstruction Mechanic 2nd Class Jacob Seichter, attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Can-Do Seabees Lend Hands By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public AffairsSeabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 25 are grading a hill on the Leeward airfield that will allow large aircraft unobstructed movement when navigating the runways. The project resulted from a 747 airplane Photo by MCC(S W) Bill Mestabeing unable to turn around at the end of the flight line before its scheduled take-off. The plane was carrying pallets of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) that were being delivered to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response. When the aircraft attempted to turn, a 180foot by 200-foot hill blocked its way. See SEABEES page 4

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The Guantanamo Bay Gazette 2 The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The contents do not necessarily Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is printed by the Document Automation & Production Service (DAPS) with a circulation of 1,000. GAZETTE GUANTANAMO BAYVol. 67 No. 3 U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba calling 4520/4623 or by e-mailing PAO@usnbgtmo.navy.mil.NAVST A COMMANDING OFFICERCapt. Steven H. BlaisdellNAVST A EXECUTIVE OFFICERCmdr. Paul MitchellNAVST A COMMAND MA STER CHIEFCMDCM(SW/AW) Keith CarlsonNAVST A PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERMr. Terence PeckLEADING CHIEF PETT Y OFFICER PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICEMCC(SW) Bill MestaEDITOR, WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHERMC3 Leona Mynes By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public AffairsThe commanding officer and command master chief of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba briefed the community on GTMOs role in Operation Unified Response on Jan. 19 on their live, weekly call-in forum, Open Line Navy Capt. Steven Blaisdell and Navy Command Master Chief Keith Carlson spoke on Open Line about the naval stations mission as it relates to disaster relief efforts and its effect on base residents. There is an extremely large humanitarian operation in effect now, and Guantanamo is and will be a One of the primary missions for the naval station in this After the disaster in Haiti, use of Guantanamos leeward airfield was prioritized to support this mission. As a result, Blaisdell made several policy adjustments. For example, until recently, Guantanamo residents could sponsor personal visitors to the installation, but because of the increase in aircraft support missions for the base, no personal visitor requests will be approved until further notice. Moreover, some existing visitor approvals had to be revoked. Another necessary response to the increased mission requirements was a suspension of all existing and future leave and temporary assigned duty for naval station sailors and staff. Permanent c hange of s tation orders are not affected by this new, temporary policy. I have to conserve GTMOs resources for the mission, and the mission is Blaisdell. I don t know when the suspension will be lifted, but this is not a two-weekWith the increased activity from numerous sources, a goal of the radio address was to dispel the many rumors circulating within community. One false rumor related to a possible requirement to evacuate dependants or other groups of individuals from the installation. Blaisdell responded to this rumor on-air. ... Ill never say never, but as we stand now, there are no plans in place that would require dependents to leave. If I can avoid that [decision], Blaisdell. The community was advised that all official decisions that affect residents will be broadcasted via official means: the base roller, the Guantanamo Bay Gazette, and the radio station. Another goal of Tuesdays Open Line was to encourage residents to do their part to support the mission. If you re looking for ways you can help us with our supportive role... help us with utility usage. The population on-island is growing by the hour, and we need to conserve what said Carlson. Carlson also asked that residents adhere to new security checkpoints throughout the base. Blaisdell and Carlson appear live each Tuesday at noon on FM 103.1 The Blitz, FM 102.1 The Mix, AM 1340 Talk Radio, and the base roller channel four through the Defense Media Activity broadcast detachment at Guantanamo. Open Lines purpose is to connect with residents and provide servicemembers on-station with a weekly Captains Call. The show is re-broadcasted at 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 1 p.m. Wednesdays on 103.1 to allow for the widest possible audience. Tune in to OpenlineYour live, weekly Captains Call Tuesdays at Noon on FM 103.1 The Blitz, FM 102.1 The Mix, AM

The Guantanamo Bay Gazette 4 From Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public AffairsA logistical support task force stood up Jan. 17 at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay under the command of Navy Rear Adm. Patricia Wolfe. Task force 48 was set up at Guantanamo Bays advantage of the facilities and the 170-mile distance from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. TF-48 enables operation of the forward joint logistics sea base Response, managing air and out of the naval station. The task force serves as a hub for the joint multinational relief effort launched in response to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Simply put, we are Wolfe. We are using anything and everything that can deliver supplies and personnel here and then lift those supplies forward to Haiti. We have 747s, Navy and Air Force C-130s, C-17s, Coast Guard and Navy helicopters, and surface ships from various nations using us and More than 100 personnel of Norfolk, Va.-based Carrier Strike Group 2 and the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) from Williamsburg, Va. comprise the team. One of NAVELSGs missions is to provide humanitarian support in the wake of natural disasters like the earthquake in Haiti. Task Force 48 is only a small part but a critical part of an overall U.S. Navy and multinational As of Jan. 18, U.S. military aircraft airlifted more than 300,000 food rations, 400,000 bottles of water, 12,000 pounds of medical supplies and 124 tents into Port-au-Prince. We are responding to the most urgent needs of the Haitian people in support of the joint, interagency and Wolfe. The people of Haiti have the full support of the U.S. to rescue those trapped and to deliver food, water and medicine that will be needed in the Were doing this so that inbound and outbound planes are not impeded Chief Builder Christopher Grzebieniek, NMCB 25s leading chief petty officer. Removing the hill prevented the planes engine from making contact with the ground. The Seabees were tasked with the project early Jan. 20. The bulk of the project is ongoing, but the area preventing the 747s movement was clear mid-day Jan. 21. SEABEES Photo by MCC(SW) Bill Mesta Photo by MCC(SW) Bill Mesta Photo by MCC(SW) Bill Mesta

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January 22, 2010 5 B AIE DE GR AND GO AVE H aiti (Jan. 20, 2010) F ight deck crew members aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (L HD 5) treatment. The woman was one of 19 H aitians brought aboard Bataan during a mass medical evacuation from various areas around Port-au-Prince. Bataan Saves Lives Photo by MC2 Julio Rivera QuakingSo much is happening right now in our small corner of the world. The news reports are that another quake of 5.9 magnitude rocked Haiti Wednesday. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and the tenant commands are ramping up with arrangements. Right now, there seems to be lots of uncertainty, lots of added hours, lots of questions, lots of extra meetings, and lots of time away from family. All of this can lead to enormous stress for everyone. In the Bible during the change-over of leadership from Moses to Joshua, the transition created tremendous amount of stress. God did not want the people to be stressed, but to see that he had it all under controlthat he would be with them wherever they would go; they just needed to heed his word. In Joshua 1:9, God tells them, Be strong and courageous; do not be Though our tasks may seem daunting and the overtime may feel vast, one way you can release your stress is to give it to God, who is by your side. So take courage today. By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Public AffairsThe Guantanamo Bay Black Heritage Organization held a ceremony Jan. 18 to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Participants marched down Recreation enact the historical civil rights marches King led in the 1960s. The ceremony concluded at the base chapel where several guest speakers commemorated the activists life. I can think of many things Dr. King gave us and imparted into us as a people who share a common humanity ... one of Leapheart, the master of ceremonies. Leapheart said survival is a simple concept. Keep on trying, never give up, keep marching, he kept going forward, and that The ceremony came three days after what would have been Kings 81st birthday. For more information on the Guantanamo Bay Black Heritage Organization, call 4512. Sing to Honor MLK Photo by MC3 Leona Mynes

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The Guantanamo Bay Gazette 6 From Defense Media Activity Anacostia WASHINGTON (NNS) -A sea-based force of 8,500 Sailors, 11 ships and 42 aircraft is currently supporting the immediate delivery of aid to earthquake victims in Operating a few miles off the coast of Haiti are USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70); USNS Comfort (T-AH-20); USS Normandy (CG 60); USS Bunker Hill (CG 52); USS Higgins (DDG 76); USS Underwood (FFG 36); USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51); and the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. The Bataan ARG includes embarked Marines of the 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43); USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). In addition, Sailors from Maritime Civil Affairs, Maritime Security, Expeditionary Logistic Support, Seabee units, and Combat Camera, as well as other Navy divers and engineers are supporting disaster response efforts with diverse capabilities including assessment, construction, security, civil affairs and logistical support. To date, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces supporting relief efforts have conducted 336 air deliveries, delivered 32,400 gallons of water, 532,440 bottles of water, 111,082 meals and 9,000 lbs of medical supplies. Most importantly, U.S. and international search and rescue teams have rescued 69 earthquake victims, mostly Haitian citizens. Navy medical professionals aboard USNS Comfort received their first patients Jan. 20, delivered by a MH-60 Vinson (CVN 70) in the middle of the night. The two patients, a six-year-old boy and a 20-year old man injured in the earthquake, arrived aboard the ship shortly after 10 p.m. USNS Comfort will provide full hospital services to support U.S. humanitarian assistance and disaster response to the people of Haiti. Comfort comes with a full spectrum of hospital services to support disaster relief efforts including: primary, trauma, pediatric and orthopedic care Maritime Force Serves as Cornerstone services. The 894-foot long ship has six fully operational operating rooms. Comfort currently has a 250 acute care bed capacity and 40 ICU beds. The Navys contribution will be reinforced and expanded in the upcoming days with the arrival of the following units: USNS Henson (T-AGS-63), an oceanographic survey ship, and MV Alakai, a high speed ferry, are scheduled to arrive in the next few days. USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2), a dry cargo ship with two SH-60S helicopters, and USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011), a dry cargo ship capable of offloading cargo without a port are scheduled to arrive in the next week. The Nassau Amphibious Ready Group/24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (NAS ARG/24 MEU), including USS Nassau (LHD 4), USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Ashland (LSD 48), and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are scheduled to arrive in the next week. SS Cape May (T-AKR 5063), a heavy lift ship; USNS PFC Dewayne Williams (T-AK 3009), a container & roll-on/roll-off ship; and MV Huakai, a high speed ferry, are scheduled to arrive in the next few weeks. of a larger U.S. response to a request from the government of Haiti for urgent humanitarian aid. U.S. Southern Command is working closely with the Dept. of State, U.S. Agency for International Development and the international community to aggressively provide life-sustaining services to the people of Haiti. All military efforts are in support of USAID, which is orchestrating U.S. government contributions to the relief mission. The last time the Navy supported U.S. disaster relief efforts in Haiti was in September 2008. After the island nation was hit by consecutive hurricanes and tropical storm, the amphibious ship USS Kearsarge was diverted to assist with the delivery of 3.3 million pounds of internationally-donated aid to communities isolated by flooding, mudslides and damaged roads. Photo by Sgt. Andrew Hillegrass